William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Elizabethan Verse. 1907.
Song: ‘Only joy! now here you are’Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)
O
Fit to hear and ease my care.
Let my whispering voice obtain
Sweet reward for sharpest pain.
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Twinkling stars love-thoughts provoke,
Danger hence, good care doth keep;
Jealousy itself doth sleep.
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Cupid’s knot to loose or bind;
These sweet flowers our fine bed too,
Us in their best language woo.
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Serves thy beams but to disclose:
So to raise my hap more high,
Fear not else! none can us spy.
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Dumb Sleep holdeth all the house:
Yet asleep, methinks they say
‘Young fools, take time while you may!’
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
This large offer of our bliss;
Long stay ere he grant the same.
Sweet! then, while each thing doth frame,
Take me to thee, and thee to me!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Candles out, and curtains spread:
She thinks you do letters write.
Write! but let me first indite
‘Take me to thee, and thee to me!’
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Concord better fitteth us.
Leave to Mars the force of hands;
Your power in your beauty stands.
Take thee to me, and me to thee!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”
Me to hate, but I forbear?
Cursèd be my destinies all!
That brought me so high to fall.
Soon with my death I will please thee!
“No, no, no, no, my Dear! let be.”